Some stations are regarded more as landmarks than as utilities, and as such are often of prestigious rather than practical design, which may detract seriously from their efficiency.

Their design and location affect the efficiency of a transport system, and its impact on other road users. Stations and terminals are important elementsīus stations and terminals are a significant element in the operation of bus services. In many cities the majority of passengers start and end their journeys at bus stations, and a significant proportion of operators’ revenue may be collected at these points. The term bus station is normally used to refer to an off-road location with at least basic facilities for passengers, while a terminal may be a fully equipped bus station but might equally be merely a point in the road. With a large number of vehicles arriving and departing, it may be necessary to provide off-road bus station facilities for the convenience of passengers and to reduce traffic congestion.Īlthough the terms bus terminal and bus station tend to be used synonymously, the latter is normally more correct since in most cases there are some routes which pass through the station without terminating there.

If the number of vehicles arriving and departing is low, a roadside bus stop, with no facilities, will normally be adequate. The size and nature of a terminal may vary, from a roadside bus stop with no facilities for passengers or bus crews, to a purpose built off-road bus station offering a wide range of facilities. It also often provides a convenient point where services can be controlled from. It’s also where passengers board and alight from vehicles. A bus terminal, or terminus, is the point where a bus route starts or ends, where vehicles stop, turn or reverse, and wait before departing on their return journeys.

Bus stops